Oenothera speciosa (Pink evening primrose)

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Oenothera speciosa Nutt.

Pink evening primrose, showy evening primrose, Mexican primrose, amapola, pinkladies

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Myrtales	Includes myrtles, leadwoods, loosestrifes, pomegranates, evening primroses, many others
Family	Onagraceae	Willowherb/evening primrose family
Genus	Oenothera	Derivation uncertain: 1. Greek ονος θηρας (onos theras), or “donkey catcher.” 2. Or οινος θηρας (oinos theras), “wine seeker.” 3. Or Latin oenothera, “a plant whose juices may cause sleep”
Species	speciosa	Showy

About plant names...

Pink evening primrose is native to southwestern North America. They prefer prairies, fields, meadows, and open woodlands.

Plants: 6-24" (15-60 cm) tall, with stems that are erect or slouching. One means of spreading is via root systems a foot underground, leading to clumps up to 6' (1.8 m) around.

Leaves: Leaves are simple, toothed, and 1-3" (3-8 cm) × ¾" (2 cm), on short petioles (stems). They are hairless, or slightly hairy, and oblanceolate to elliptic.

Flowers: Young flowers are white, usually maturing to an attractive pink color, in small clusters atop long stems. They have four petals in the shape of a bowl, yellow centers, 8 stamens, and a long white stigma branched into 4 sections at its tip. Flowers are 2-3½" (5-8.9 cm) across. Flowers appear from May to July or later, depending upon the area.

Fruits: Narrow capsules ⅜-⅝" (1.2-1.8 cm) long.

Online References:

Illinois Wildflowers

The Missouri Botanical Garden

The U.S. Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers site

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada
≈ 11 × 9" (26 × 22 cm)

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · By Susan M. Kent
≈ 15 × 11" (37 × 28 cm)

Hartmannia speciosa (Nutt.) Small

Oenothera delessertiana Steud.

Oenothera speciosa Nutt. var. childsii (L.H. Bailey) Munz

Oenothera speciosa description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · By Susan M. Kent
≈ 10 × 9" (24 × 22 cm)

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · By Susan M. Kent
≈ 13 × 11" (31 × 28 cm)

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada
≈ 12 × 10" (31 × 26 cm)

4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · By Susan M. Kent
≈ 20 × 17" (50 × 44 cm)

Range: Zones 4-9:

About this map...